Top Contenders for this year’s league title, S.Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia got their round-2 league campaign off to a winning start, recording a 41 points (4 Goals, 2 Tries, 1 Penalty) to 11 (1 Try, 2 Penalties) victory over St.Anthony’s College, Katugasthota on their Singer A division league fixture worked off at Mt.Lavinia.
S.Thomas’: (22) 41
Tries: Naveen Henakankanamge (2), Sanjeeve Ahangama, Sharith Nanayakkara, Christian De Lile, Ashwantha Herath.
Conversions: Ashwantha Herath (4)
Penalties: Ashwantha Herath (1)
St.Anthony’s : (11) 11
Tries: A Bandara
Penalties: Samuel Maduwantha (2)
Coming into this game with an unbeaten tag S.Thomas’ College authorities had decided to host their games at Mt.Lavinia which gave them a proper home advantage playing beside the sea. Samuel Maduwantha, who has been the talisman for the visitors’ got things underway. Interestingly Maduwantha played as full back, rather than his usual role of Fly half.
The 3 week break seemed to have taken its toll as both teams looked rusty off the kick off. S.Thomas’ were pinned to their own half and were on the defense as the visitors looked for a breakthrough. The first score came in the 15th minute when Maduwantha who missed a difficult kick a few minutes earlier made no mistake with an easier 10 meter penalty after the home side was penalized for off side. (00-03).
This was enough to spark the Thomians into life as they responded within a couple of minutes to get their first points on the board. Sanjeeve Ahangama drove himself through a few Antonian defenders to score under the posts. Ashwantha Herath added the easy extras. (07 – 03).
Photo Album – S.Thomas’ v St.Anthony’s
The lead was cut down to a mere point through Maduwantha’s boot as he put over a well taken penalty from 30 meters out. Another few minutes later the Antonians were virtually gifted a try due to an unfortunate mistake by the Thomian Winger Praveen Ferdinando. Maduwantha kicked the ball deep into the Thomian half and as the ball reached the in goal area Ferdinando seemed to have got it covered only to be deceived by the bounce of the ball giving the charging Antonian Winger an easy try. But it went unconverted. (07 – 11).
Despite dominating territory and possession, all of St.Anthony’s hard work was washed away, as the Thomians scored two quick back to back tries through Naveen Henakankanamge and Sharith Nanayakkara. Ashwantha Herath added the extras on one occasion as the Thomians went into the half time break with 11 point lead.
Half Time: St.Thomas’ 22 – St.Anthony’s 11
St.Anthony’s gave their traveling supporters a glimmer of hope starting brightly in the 2nd half and came close to scoring on one occasion. But against the run of play, it was the Thomians who scored and yet again it was that man Naveen Henakankanamge who crashed in mid right. Herath however could not add the easy extras but the home team now had a healthy lead (27-11).
From this point onwards the game transpired to be a lackluster affair with both teams unable to make any headway. The Antonians in particular despite enjoying territory and better possession kept making clumsy mistakes especially at the set pieces. Even their talisman Maduwantha faded away missing two kickable penalties while also making some poor decision making with the ball in hand. The only highlight for the next 20 minutes of the game was a minor fight that broke out between the two teams which resulted in both the tight head props being shown yellow by the referee. The scoring deadlock was finally broken in the 70th minute when open side flanker Chritian De Lille wriggled his way through from close range to score mid left. Herath was on target this time to add the extras (34-11).
Five minutes later Hearath who had an outstanding game both in attack and defense added the icing on the cake, outfoxing the seemingly tired St.Anthony’s defense to score under the posts and convert it himself to give his team a comfortable win at the end.
S.Thomas’ showed some laziness in their play early on during the first half but improved as the game progressed. The “Thomian Flash” Naveen Henakankanamge had a good game scoring two tries while making some good ground looking dangerous whenever he received the ball. His chances of breaking through the Antonian defense were increased even further thanks to the hard work done by Ashwantha Herath and Ferdinando in center field. The school by the sea will now go into their next game against St.Peters full of confidence as they look to keep their title ambitions on track.
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Ashwantha Herath (STC)
Referee – Aruna Rankothge
 to 11( 1 Try , 2 Penalties) victory over St . Anthony's College, Katugasthota in their Singer A division League fixture played at Mt.lavinia.){kind=link}